Chipping Options - what's your view on this shot...?

ShriekingSheet

November's Today's Golfer had a piece on the short game by Luke Donald. One of the shots was a seemingly ordinary bump and run with a mid-long iron but I noticed he was advising the use of a putting grip and stroke - something I'd never tried before.

So it's essentially for shots within a yard or two of the putting surface. I've been trying it a lot lately with my 7 iron and a putting grip and stance (not an open chipping stance). I play the ball in the putting position, just ahead of centre and make a putting stroke catching it clean or very slightly thin, if anything.

I find it great for when there is just that bit too much fringe to putt through. Standing so upright with a mid or long iron will naturally cause the club to sit on it's toe (sounds painful!) a bit but according to LD, that helps the shot, giving you a softer touch.

But the biggest benefit i find is the putting-like feel and distance control you get from using the putting grip. I use a standard putting grip - left index finger overlapping between ring and middle fingers of my right hand and while it's a bit odd at first, it seems to be quite a useful shot to have and for me, more consistant than the normal chip and run with a 7 iron.

Try it, if you haven't already, and let me know what you guys think.

Myksyk

This is a stroke I always use within a metre or so from the green and often with a PW rather than a mid-iron. You'll see a host of pros doing it. Tiger is the master of it. I find it brilliant in terms of control and accuracy. With it I prefer to chip rather than putt when anywhere just off the green.

stockdam

I'm the world's worst chipper but I've heard of that technique before.


You stand quite close to the ball with the toe down and hit it like a putt.



I guess I need some practice.

copacetic

I've used this a fair bit, have found I often don't feel that comfortable over the ball with the light grip, but that the distance control is usually excellent..

ShriekingSheet

copacetic wrote: »

I've used this a fair bit, have found I often don't feel that comfortable over the ball with the light grip, but that the distance control is usually excellent..

Yeah certainly does feel kinda quirky but I find the "putting" style can pretty much eliminate any worry as regards strike. By that I mean, you can't duff it (unless you frequently duff your putter) and it's a thin shot anyway so blading it doesn't really come into it either.

Not great from slopey lies or with any kind of grass behind the ball thought.

stockdam

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

you can't duff it

Wanna bet!!!!


It never really felt like a proper chip to me as it feels a bit of a thin.

ShriekingSheet

stockdam wrote: »

It never really felt like a proper chip to me as it feels a bit of a thin.

Well that's exactly it - it's really not a chip - it's putting with an iron. And as I said, it seems like part of the shot to catch it a bit thin. It's a back-and-thru putting stroke, not a downward chipping strike.

I find a lot of these more alternative ideas around the green (using the blade of a SW, using a hybrid or 5 wood etc) to be a bit gimmicky, so I was certainly cynical when trying this idea but it's strength is in the fact that it's very, very basic and easy to do.

PhilipMarlowe

I'd find the hybrid in these situations to be the most idiot proof. Again, grip down on the shaft, ball centre, putting stroke... even get a feel for the pace as if you were using your putter.
It's almost identical to using your putter except you will naturally get a little bit of carry before getting a good roll-out. Perfect when you have a small bit of messy fringe or light rough to negotiate and a decent bit of green to work with.

Holding the iron more upright in the OP is also a great idea because it effectively increases the bounce and helps prevent the sickening result where your ball advances forward about 3 feet and you need to clean the muck off your club!